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The microwave does not spin – any owner can face this. We have collected all the options for diagnosis and repair in the article.
Microwave ovens of the new generation are a real “ambulance” in the kitchen. It takes minutes to cook, reheat and defrost. In the complete set with a microwave oven there is a special rotating plate – a tray on which food or ready meals are placed. Rotation is necessary for uniform heating: the food turns on all sides to the source of microwaves – the magnetron.
Same failure, different reasons
If the tray does not spin, it will not work as before – the food will only warm up on both sides. You can still put up with poor-quality heating for some time, but we can’t talk about cooking raw foods.
The easiest way to solve the problem is to contact the service center. And what to do if it is far from him: call a private master or fix the breakdown with your own hands? It all depends on the cause of the failure. The same failure can be caused by completely different prerequisites. In some cases, it is possible to cope with the problem on your own, in others, you cannot do without a specialist.
Why is the plate spinning?
The first microwaves were not equipped with a rotating tray, they thought of it later. You can’t envy the owners of the first expensive stoves – they manually turned the food over, the device had to be turned on at least twice. Later, the developers improved the design of the microwave and automated the process – the technique began to work without human intervention.
In order for the food to warm up evenly, a plate with wheels was introduced into the design. Uniform rotation allows the product to fully warm up in one cycle.
If the plate has stopped spinning, you can:
- Do nothing and turn manually. This is a frivolous approach, modern technology should work according to the declared functions, without taking up the time of its owner and without complicating the cooking process.
- Find out why the mechanism does not turn the pallet. When the cause of the malfunction is found, take measures to eliminate it.
If the malfunction occurred due to carelessness
Do not rush to carry the microwave to a service center or call the master – perhaps the tray does not rotate due to some non-technical trifle. Then you can fix it yourself.
When inspecting the device, pay attention to the following points:
- The dishes that you put in the chamber are too large – touching the walls, they interfere with normal rotation. Because of this, the plate with wheels is completely blocked or turns in jerks.
- Food has fallen out of the container placed in the chamber and is blocking movement. Even a crumb crammed between the wheels can cause braking and blocking. Product dimensions can also prevent rotation. Let’s say you put a piece of meat to defrost, but it is too large and when you turn the pan it touches the walls – the movement becomes intermittent or stops altogether.
- It is possible that after cleaning the turntable, you did not install it correctly: if the lugs of the bushing or the bushing do not fit into the grooves correctly, there will be no movement. To fix the problem, you just need to put the pallet correctly.
We are looking for a technical reason
If the microwave oven is inspected and you do not find anything preventing rotation, you will have to look for technical problems. Most likely, the microwave oven will need repairs, the degree of complexity of which is again determined by the source of the breakdown.
It is logical to assume that the stoppage of movement is associated with a malfunction of the torque mechanism. But the problem can be caused even by such a trifle as a burnt-out internal light bulb – owners of older generation microwaves face this. For problems that led to a stop, look for the following components and parts:
- Gear. A broken gearbox gear is one of the most common causes of pallet stall. Replace it. If it does not help, you will need a serious and expensive repair – replacing the engine. Given the cost of such a repair, it is cheaper to dispose of the old device and buy a new one. So you do not have to spend money on repairs, you will get a new, more reliable and functional model from a reliable manufacturer.
- Coupling. This coupling mechanism, slipping on the shaft, can prevent rotation. Try to strengthen it by eliminating slippage. Did not help? Then you need to change the clutch.
- Motor winding. If it is torn, the intervention of the master will be required. The winding cannot be restored, it must be changed. You can radically solve the problem – change the motor. You can find out about damage to the winding without disassembling the equipment – there is a smell of burnt varnish.
- Power circuit. To check the integrity of the power circuit, ring the wiring with a tester. Did you find an open circuit? You just need to eliminate it.
Light bulb replacement
In some modifications of the microwave, the internal illumination lamp is included in a serial circuit. When the lamp burns out, the circuit is interrupted and the motor turns off. The decision is ill-conceived, but it is unlikely that any of the buyers delve into such nuances when choosing a microwave – they will find out about this when it fails.
In such models, you just need to replace the burned-out lamp, and the problem will be fixed.
If the engine is broken
The most unpleasant reason why the plate does not spin is a broken engine. As mentioned above, replacing the engine is an expensive pleasure, which not every owner of a microwave oven can decide on. We must first calculate the rationality of such a step. Often the malfunction is associated with a breakdown of the gearbox or with poor-quality wiring. In any situation, you need to replace the motor.
To understand the causes of the malfunction, you need to know the engine device. Let us consider in more detail the mechanisms that affect the operation of the motor:
Motor shaft. With its help, rotational movement is performed. Shaft failure can be caused by careless handling or interference with its operation, for example:
- manual braking;
- touching the walls of the chamber with dishes;
- increased load on the mechanism.
Important! Having bought a microwave oven, be sure to read the instructions in order to know how to use it correctly, what loads it can withstand.
Motor housing and gearbox cover. Their task is to prevent water, food particles and foreign objects from entering the microwave oven.
Gearbox. Responsible for the functioning of the rotating element. Gearbox failure is rare – it is a fairly wear-resistant mechanism. When the gears involved in the rotation wear out, it breaks.
Attention! Today, in microwave ovens, plastic analogues are used instead of metal gears, which does not contribute to the durability of the gearbox.
To find out the cause of the breakdown, you need to disassemble the device. First, remove the panel that covers the engine. Then it is removed and untwisted with a screwdriver and pliers. Often fat accumulates under the cover – it must be carefully removed without damaging the mechanism. You can use ordinary alcohol or a special composition. When the fat is removed, it is necessary to lubricate the important components of the motor and fix the housing.
What kind of motor do you need
In order for the motor to fully work, it must have low speed and high torque. It also requires high efficiency and energy efficiency. Microwaves use low power (4 W) synchronous motors, making 3-7 revolutions per minute. They easily turn a plate on which several kilograms are placed.
To replace a broken motor or gearbox, no special talents are needed – follow the corresponding video instructions:
When replacing the engine do not turn the shaft if you touch the power terminals – you can break the gearbox or you will be shocked. When choosing how to replace a broken part, do not take cheap analogues – they are of poor quality and are unlikely to last a long time.
Check nutrition
If you find that the plate is broken and the microwave is not heating, it is likely that it simply does not receive power. Perhaps the wires in the motor burned out or the microcircuits were damaged. This problem often occurs in homes where there is unstable voltage.
In addition, the failure of the batteries can be provoked by water that has got inside the case – you will need to deal with the internal block of the stove. Without sufficient electrical knowledge and skills, you should not fix such problems on your own. If you don’t want to break something else, entrust the work to qualified specialists.
Depending on the causes of the failure and the cost of repair, you will decide whether to repair or dispose of.
Remember the warranty
If you are going to intervene in the “insides” of the microwave, remember that service centers do not like this. If your equipment is under warranty, it is better to immediately give it to specialists. Once you open the case – and warranty service will be denied.
If the warranty is out, then you can try to fix the problem yourself. If it does not work out, go to the masters. They have everything you need for diagnosis and repair.
microwave oven without tray
A microwave oven is a complex household appliance, a product of innovative technologies. It is all the more offensive when you lose it because of such a trifle as a spinning plate. It turns out that this problem can be avoided in advance if you buy a device without a rotating mechanism.
The inverter stove is the most advanced representative of microwaves. Its main difference is inverter regulation by a magnetron. One of the advantages of such microwave ovens is the absence of a turntable:
- No moving parts – less breakdowns.
- The magnetron is located below, and not on the side – the volume is used more rationally. The capacity of the chamber is increased. Cooking and defrosting are faster.
- Simplified maintenance and increased reliability.
- You can cook several dishes at the same time in different dishes.
On a note! You will learn more about this technique in the review “Microwave oven without a turntable”.
Before deciding on an independent repair of a microwave oven, evaluate your capabilities. Definitely not worth disassembling a device that is under warranty. Before contacting a service or a master, be sure to check if there are any obstacles preventing the rotation of the pallet. When troubleshooting, try not to make the problem worse.
Check out these helpful videos to help you fix the problem yourself: